Suella Braverman accused of being 'sock puppet' for Tory right and fuelling rebellion against her own migrant plan

27 March 2023, 06:42 | Updated: 27 March 2023, 08:37

Suella Braverman has been accused of being a 'sock puppet' for the Tory right
Suella Braverman has been accused of being a 'sock puppet' for the Tory right. Picture: Getty

By Kit Heren

Suella Braverman has been accused of being a "sock puppet" for the right wing of the Conservative party, who are demanding that she strengthen measures to handle the small boat crisis.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The home secretary met backbench rebels on the right of her party over the weekend and reportedly told them she will strengthen the government's migration bill to allow ministers to ignore European judges' rulings on deportations.

Led by Boris Johnson's former political secretary Danny Kruger, the 50 or so potential opponents of the Illegal Migration Bill have asked for numerous added clauses to the law.

They include allowing ministers to flout European legal advice, bar migrants from protections under Britain's domestic human rights laws and more restrictions to filing appeals, according to The Times.

Ms Braverman has now promised the rebels that she will consider their concerns before the bill becomes law, it reported, in return for them not adding amendments to the legislation this week.

But some within the government have claimed that Ms Braverman is working with the backbench rebels to force ministers to strengthen the migrants bill and put pressure on Rishi Sunak.

“She wants to use it to spook us to offer concessions to get them to drop their amendments because a big rebellion would be embarrassing,” a source told the Times. “She has basically become a sock puppet for the right.”

A source close to Ms Braverman denied the claim and said it was a "scurrilous" rumour.

Meanwhile government legal advisers reportedly oppose the plan, while attorney general Victoria Prentis is said to be concerned it would break international law.

Not a single migrant has been sent to Rwanda for offshore processing since the government announced its flagship migrant policy almost one year ago.

Read more: Laughing gas to be banned as government plans crackdown on anti-social behaviour

Read more: Suella Braverman promises Rwanda deportations 'by summer' as home secretary visits new-build housing for asylum seekers

Danny Kruger is leading a rebel group of 50 to 60 Conservative MPs who believe the Illegal Migration Bill needs hardening
Danny Kruger is leading a rebel group of 50 to 60 Conservative MPs who believe the Illegal Migration Bill needs hardening. Picture: Alamy

The government is also thought to be working with the UN's refugee agency to create a safe route for 20,000 migrants each year.

Meanwhile centrist Tory rebels led by Tim Loughton are said to be working with Labour on proposing an amendment to the bill, the Telegraph reported.

The Illegal Migration Bill will return to the House of Commons on Monday and will be formally unveiled by Ms Braverman in the coming days.

Mr Kruger told the newspaper: “We are hopeful that the Government will see the sense of further strengthening the Bill, and we are hoping that is what we will get from Suella Braverman at the dispatch box.”

Channel migrants are pictured being processed in Dover
Channel migrants are pictured being processed in Dover. Picture: Alamy

One source told The Times that Ms Braverman had delayed publishing the bill until concerns were addressed, while another denied that she was sympathetic to the rebels' cause.

A government spokesperson said: “The prime minister and the home secretary have worked tirelessly together to come up with a bill that does what’s necessary to stop the boats while complying with international law.

"We do not believe it is necessary to leave the ECHR to stop the boats, and have constructed the legislation carefully [...] to ensure we can get flights off to Rwanda as soon as possible.”

Caller says Boris Johnson should be deported to Rwanda

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Kenya Cult Leader

Kenyan cult leader sentenced to 18 months for film violations

Rishi Sunak has said he should not be judged for how long he spent at Cop28

Judge me on results, not for how long I was at Cop28, pleads Rishi Sunak - after spending just 12 hours at climate talks

Israel-Hamas conflict

Met has ‘locally led’ London policing plan for expected pro-Palestine protests

Breaking
Brigit Forsyth has died.

Still Open All Hours and Likely Lads star Brigit Forsyth dies aged 83

Matt Hancock bizarrely declared Joe Anderson had died

Ex-Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson says he is still alive after Matt Hancock bizarrely announces his death in Covid Inquiry

Jussie Smollett

Appeal court affirms actor Jussie Smollett’s convictions and jail sentence

A caller to James O’Brien’s programme has shared footage of the extraordinary destruction done to his newly purchased property just outside of Durham.

Property investor's shock at 'unexplainable level of damage' he discovered after buying new home

Charles's tie featured a display very similar to the Greek flag

King Charles wears tie 'with Greek flags' in pattern as he meets Sunak after row over Elgin Marbles

Belton house, Grantham a National Trust property.

Man, 29, arrested on suspicion of murder at National Trust country house where Bridgerton was filmed

Grand Theft Auto 6 has been announced by Rockstar Games.

Gamers in meltdown as Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer release date announced by Rockstar

General view of the UKFast Campus factory in Birley Fields, Manchester, as the company's multi-millionaire boss has been jailed for sexual harassment and bullying allegations had been facing pressure from his customers

Tech multi-millionaire who drugged and raped women jailed for 15 years

Benjamin Netanyahu insists the country will "liquidate Hamas"

'Hamas will now take the mother of all thumpings' for not releasing all kidnapped women, says Israel

Felicity Huffman - pictured right with husband William H. Macy - served 11 days in prison and was forced to pay $30,000 for her involvement in the college admissions scandal

Felicity Huffman breaks silence on college admissions scandal after prison sentence for bribing daughter's way into college

APTOPIX The AP Interview Zelenskyy

Ukrainian special forces ‘bomb two Russian trains on Siberian railway’

Havering Council has scrapped the Hanukkah plans

Havering council u-turns on plans to scrap installation of Hanukkah menorah after sparking fury among locals

Romania National Day

Tens of thousands watch military parade marking Romania’s national day